CIMA Based Remote Instrument and Data Access: An Extension into the Australian e-Science Environment

Abstract

The Common Instrument Middleware Architecture (CIMA) is being used as a core component of a portal based remote instrument access system being developed as an Australian e-Science project. The CIMA model is being enhanced to use federated Grid storage infrastructure (SRB), and the Kepler workflow system to, as much as possible, automate data management, and the facile extraction and generation of instrument and experimental metadata. The Personal Grid Library is introduced as a user friendly portlet interface to SRB data and metadata, and which supports customisable metadata schemas. An Instrument Instruction Module has been introduced as a CIMA plug-in for instrument control. A virtual instrument portlet provides a simulation of the instrument during a data collection. The system is being further augmented with a tool for collaborative data visualisation and evaluation.

Remote instrument control with CIMA Web services and Web 2.0 technology

“…Utility plugins may also be used and we have, for instance, introduced a plugin type for the conversion of an instrument data image into an image format suitable for display in the client browser interface. Data management may also be provided through an additional plugin or via Web services access to a separate management service [13].…”

“…Herein we describe extensions and enhancements to the CIMA model, being undertaken as part of the development of a comprehensive and feature rich remote access portal system that includes remote instrument operation and control [13]. In part two of the paper we present the overall system architecture and the rationale behind that architecture.…”

Challenges in Data Intensive Analysis at Scientific Experimental User Facilities

“…One well known example is the STFC developed integrated infrastructure for its Neutron Source ISIS, Central Laser Facility and DIAMOND Lightsource, based around the Information Catalogue (ICAT 17 ). The software was made open source in 2008 18 and was the only one available for distribution and usage by others in this field. Since its release it has been adopted by a range of other facilities in Europe, Australia, and the US.…”

“…Other infrastructure developments based around the CSMD model are found at the US ORNL Spallation Neutron Source (SNS), the Australian CIMA Fig. 10.4 Core data management infrastructure components [18], Archer, 22 and eCrystals (UK). 23 All of these infrastructures aim to provide an improved support for their users throughout the experimental process, delivering improved access to information and data, as well as supporting long term access and sharing of results.…”

VIRA: A CIMA Based System for the Operation of Remote Scientific Instruments

“…We have accordingly adopted the CIMA model as a basis for developing a flexible remote access system enabling an instrument as a Web resource. In doing so we are further developing the architecture, and providing additional remote access services [10][11][12]. Here we report our latest work on developing a CIMA based remote access system.…”